CUSTOMER
Fort Indiantown Gap is the Pennsylvania National Guard Training Center in Annville, Pennsylvania. It offers more than 17,000 acres and 140 training areas and facilities for year-round training for military forces, law enforcement agents and civilians from across the nation. They have done what the federal government wants all businesses to do—reduce the amount of energy it uses.
CHALLENGES
The project started with an energy audit of the facilities current lighting system conducted by Atlantic Energy Concepts. The lighting audit indicated that most of the facility’s buildings had outdated lighting fixtures costing the facility significantly more in operating costs than if they had energy-efficient fixtures installed.
SOLUTION
The inefficient T-12 fluorescent lamps were replaced with T-8 energy-saving lamps and electronic ballasts. The new lighting produces more illumination that is more evenly distributed than the old system, yet consumes less energy. The higher light levels provide an enhanced sense of security for employees. The new energy-efficient fixtures were tailored to meet the needs and tasks performed in each of the buildings. The design criteria was to meet or exceed the recommended foot candles as stated by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, the professional and technical organization that sets standards in the lighting industry.
There were a total of 6,655 fixtures upgraded in 39 buildings to energy- efficient fixtures. A few of the buildings retrofitted were: Fitness Center, Flight Simulator, Officer’s Club, Tank Repair Garage, Vehicle Maintenance Garage and Aviation Hanger. The Aviation Hanger alone had 112 fixtures installed replacing the existing 1000-Watt Metal Halide system saving the base $6,000 per year for that particular building.
The total energy savings generated by the new lighting system translated into a $70,000 a year in energy savings. Because the new lighting will last longer, maintenance costs, primarily in labor for changing failed lamps, will be reduced as well.
The key to the implementation and success of this program is the use of an energy savings performance contract modeled after the state of Pennsylvania’s Act 57. This process allows state entities to enter into an agreement with an energy service company (ESCO) to provide energy efficient upgrades to the training centers facilities. These upgrades can cover many aspects from lighting, HVAC systems, windows, roofs and other energy saving technologies. The project is structured so that the upgrades will generate enough savings in utility and operational cost to pay for the upgrades within a ten-year period as mandated by Act 57.
Old lamps and ballasts were sent to a recycling center. Old lamps that contain hazardous mercury, and ballast that contain toxic PCB’s must be disposed of properly by a hazardous waste firm licensed by federal and state agencies.